Richard Allen

Richard Martin Allen passed away on August 29, 2017 while surrounded by his loved ones. Richard was born 72 years ago to his parents Vern & Dorothy (Martin) Allen. He is survived by his wife of 50 years Lou (Ewing), their children Shelley & Brad Newham, Heather & Brian Debusschere and Shawn & Kelly Allen and their grandchildren Courtney Newham (Mike), Hailey Newham, Aaron Newham, Brady Newham, Brodie Debusschere, Dakota Debusschere, Spencer Allen, Jacob Allen, Carson Allen and Preston Allen.

Richard will be remembered by his brother in law Norman & June Ewing, his Aunts Merle Smith and Lula Nicholson as well as his cousins Brian & Jana Smith and Joanne & Jamie Daniels. He was predeceased by his sisters in law and brothers in law Edna & Harvey Eves, Mary & Francis Irwin, Isabelle & Orville Benn, Gord Ewing, Jim & Lil Ewing and Donald Ewing, by his Aunt Inez & Milton Cleveland and Uncles Maurice Allen and Norm Nicholson and by his cousin Linda Smith.

Richard wore many hats in his life. He worked at Fram/Siemens in Chatham for 21.5 years, owned Allen’s Convenience in Chatham and sold real estate for Dave O’Brien in Blenheim. He was a baseball coach, past President of the Blenheim Golf Course and farmed for many years with his father Vern.

Probably the hat Richard enjoyed wearing the most was his hockey hat. He assisted the Blenheim Blades as Manager, was a past President of Blenheim Minor Hockey and also served as the Manager of his son’s teams for many seasons which included winning the Ontario Minor Hockey Peewee Championship in back to back seasons. Richard was also the Convenor for the Great Lakes Junior C Hockey League and received the Crystal Puck award in November 2010 recognizing him for his outstanding commitment to the Ontario Hockey Association.

Family and friends are invited to the Blenheim Community Funeral Home where visitation will take place on Thursday August 31, 2017 from 2 – 4 & 7 – 9 p.m. A Funeral Service for Richard will be held at the Funeral Home on Friday September 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.

Friends wishing to remember Richard with a memorial donation are asked to consider the Day Away Program at the Alzheimers Society in Chatham or the Chatham-Kent Hospice.